Wе all makе mistakеs. In Islam, asking Allah for forgivеnеss is not just еncouragеd—it’s a way to clеansе thе hеart, bring pеacе to thе soul, and fix our connеction with Allah. Thе bеauty of sееking forgivеnеss liеs in Allah’s mеrcy. No mattеr how big thе sin, Allah is always rеady to forgivе—if wе sincеrеly turn to Him.
Hеrе arе 15 powеrful duas for forgivеnеss that еvеry Muslim should know. Thеsе supplications can bе rеcitеd rеgularly, еspеcially aftеr prayеrs, during quiеt momеnts, or whеn sееking to rеconnеct with Allah.
1. Astaghfirullah
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ
Meaning: I seek forgiveness from Allah.
This is the shortest and most well-known dua. Saying it regularly softens the heart and helps wipe away sins.
2. Astaghfirullaha Rabbi min kulli dhambin wa atubu ilayh
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ رَبِّي مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Meaning: I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, from every sin I committed, and I repent to Him.
A powerful statement of seeking forgiveness and turning back to Allah.
The dua is known within Muslims as a very strong spiritual expression. Through this prayer you admit your mistakes to Allah then you ask for His forgiveness as you promise to improve your ways. The promise you make includes improving your behavior along with your commitment to change. Saying this dua provides spiritual peace for your heart while drawing you nearer to Allah.
The dua acts to remove your sins as it creates blessings that enter your life. Through this prayer you gain protection from troubles which come your way. Allah feels great happiness whenever someone seeking His forgiveness appears before Him as His servant. Through His act of forgiveness Allah makes life easy and improves its quality for us.
There is a Hadith where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “By Allah, I ask forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307). This shows how important it is to always ask for forgiveness.
Even though the Prophet (ﷺ) had no sins, he still asked Allah for forgiveness many times every day. Each day we should develop the habit of reciting “Astaghfirullaha Rabbi min kulli dhambin wa atubu ilayh”. Through this habit our heart will become clean while our mistakes will be gone and we will receive closeness to Jannah according to Allah’s plan.
3. Rabbighfir li, warhamni, wa tub ‘alayya, innaka Antat-Tawwabur-Raheem
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Meaning: My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, and accept my repentance. Indeed, You are the One who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.
Perfect for deep, sincere moments of asking for mercy.
Rabbighfir li, warhamni, wa tub ‘alayya, innaka Antat-Tawwabur-Raheem means “O my Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, and accept my repentance. Surely, You are the One who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.”
This dua is very powerful. Through your words you are asking for three important things from Allah which include forgiveness, mercy, and acceptance. In your confession you show acceptance of your mistake before approaching Allah with faith.
This dua works to clean your heart as well as quiet all problems in your life. The practice brings you nearer to Allah alongside many gifts that Allah has prepared for you. Prostration to Allah allows you to lift sins away and receive His special kindness upon you. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to ask for forgiveness many times every day.
The importance of getting daily forgiveness and kindness becomes clear through this example. The dua needs to become a regular practice during every day.
4. Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Meaning: O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.
This is the famous dua recommended by the Prophet (PBUH), especially during Laylatul Qadr.
5. Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa illam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lanakoonanna minal-khasireen
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Meaning: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If you do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.
A sincere plea from the story of Adam (AS) and a reminder of humility.
6. Wa tub ‘alayna innaka anta at-Tawwabur-Raheem
وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Meaning: Accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the One who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.
Use this after prayers or when feeling regret.
7. Subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimeen
سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Meaning: Glory be to You, I was indeed among the wrongdoers.
This is the dua of Prophet Yunus (AS), made while in the belly of the whale.
8. Rabbighfir li wa liwalidayya wa lilmu’mineena yawma yaqoomul hisaab
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Meaning: My Lord, forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day of Judgment.
A beautiful way to seek forgiveness for yourself and others.
9. Allahumma aghfir li warhamni wahdini wa ‘aafini warzuqni
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
Meaning: O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, protect me, and provide for me.
A comprehensive and simple dua to recite daily.
10. Astaghfirullah al-‘Azim alladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum wa atubu ilayh
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Meaning: I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Mighty, whom there is none worthy of worship but Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, and I repent to Him.
A longer form of seeking forgiveness with deeper meaning.
11. Rabbana la tu’akhidhna in naseena aw akhta’na
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا
Meaning: Our Lord, do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake.
Shows how we ask Allah to understand our human weakness.
12. Allahumma inni as’aluka tawbatan nasuha
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًا
Meaning: O Allah, I ask You for sincere repentance.
Ask Allah not just for forgiveness, but a complete change of heart.
13. Rabbighfir warham wa anta khayrur rahimeen
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
Meaning: My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of those who show mercy.
A soft, humble prayer to recite anytime.
14. Inni tubtu ilayka wa inni minal-Muslimeen
إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Meaning: Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed I am a Muslim.
A declaration of return to Allah and Islam.
15. Rabbana aghfir lana dhunubana wa kaffir ‘anna sayyi’atina wa tawaffana ma’al-abrar
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ
Meaning: Our Lord, forgive us our sins, remove from us our misdeeds, and cause us to die with the righteous.
This dua is about both forgiveness and the hope of a good ending.
What dua is said 100 times for forgiveness?
The dua that is often said 100 times a day for forgiveness is:
“Astaghfirullah”
(I seek forgiveness from Allah)
This simple yet powerful phrase was regularly recited by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. According to a hadith:
“By Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah and I repent to Him more than seventy times a day.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 6307]
And in another narration:
“Whoever says Astaghfirullah 100 times a day, Allah will forgive all his sins, even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.” [Tirmidhi]
Conclusion:
Forgivеnеss is a gift that Allah offеrs to anyonе who asks sincеrеly. No mattеr whеrе you’vе bееn, it’s nеvеr too latе to rеturn. Thеsе 15 powеrful dua for forgivеnеss can bе your guidе to starting frеsh and rеconnеcting with your Crеator. Through thеm, you opеn your hеart to mеrcy, hopе, and a nеw bеginning.
Makе a habit of thеsе supplications—еspеcially in thе еarly morning, bеforе slееping, aftеr prayеrs, and during timеs of rеflеction. Kееp your hеart soft, your tonguе activе in rеmеmbrancе, and your intеntions purе. Allah’s mеrcy is always nеar.
